Why do silkworms make silk cocoons?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Protecting during metamorphosis
Protecting during metamorphosis ✓ — Correct! Silkworm caterpillars spin silk cocoons to protect themselves during pupation—the transformation into moths. They produce silk protein from special glands, extruding a single thread up to 1,500 meters long! The cocoon shields the vulnerable pupa from predators and weather for 2-3 weeks.
Storing food reserves — Wrong. Food isn't stored in the cocoon. Before pupating, caterpillars eat heavily to store fat inside their bodies, then build the cocoon for protection during transformation.
Attracting female moths — Wrong. The cocoon is made by the larva (caterpillar) before becoming a pupa. It's for protection, not attracting mates—that comes later after the moth emerges.
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